-
The Z Club relies on the support of it's paid members - join the club or renew your membership here.
240Z Standard Road Springs
- Thread starter Rob Gaskin
- Start date
Thanks Highway Star, yes all pics and specs appreciated. 
So Alan is that a 'North American market' spring because it seems the same spec as the one Jon Bills described?
Is the Export R spring the same - seems so?
So Alan is that a 'North American market' spring because it seems the same spec as the one Jon Bills described?
Is the Export R spring the same - seems so?
Albrecht
Well-Known Forum User
Yes, same part number applied up to 07-73 according to the USA & Canada parts manual. BUT, remember that the lower spring platforms are different on the north American market models. You'd get a different ride height with the same spring.
Also - as if all this wasn't confusing enough - I believe the parts manuals aren't necessarily correct in identifying what we actually got in some cases. Springs and dampers is one example. According to Nissan, many of the RHD Export and LHD 'Euro' market cars were fitted with the E4106 (Fr) and E4201 (Rr) 'Option' springs to match up with the specific damper rates we were given.
If you're trying to get back to original factory spec for your car, I'd try to match them up with the struts as a set rather than rely on any other data. Have you got the numbers from the strut tubes yet?
Rear N/S
55303 E8103
3 5 0 2
Front N/S
54303 E8153
3 5 0 1
Both manufacture in Japan by AMPOO
Took the car for it's MoT today and it passed with no advisories. The tester was lenient with the headlight alignment due to the unmatched springs (temp situation).
Car now off the road with rear spring off and nothing suitable to fit.
The Tokico 5020-F and 5020-R Springs are not suitable. The rear was loose at full droop (see pic), shorter than front spring and thicker wire/less turns (not progressive either). The car sat low at the back. Front was progressive but too compressed when fitted.
Both as soft as standard I reckon.
I just wish the PO had left the standard springs on.
Car now off the road with rear spring off and nothing suitable to fit.
The Tokico 5020-F and 5020-R Springs are not suitable. The rear was loose at full droop (see pic), shorter than front spring and thicker wire/less turns (not progressive either). The car sat low at the back. Front was progressive but too compressed when fitted.
Both as soft as standard I reckon.I just wish the PO had left the standard springs on.
Attachments
Last edited by a moderator:
Albrecht
Well-Known Forum User
That's 'AMPCO'. Part of the Nissan group of companies.
Interesting, and possibly some vindication of what I've been trying to get at here.
The 'E81' prefix in the second half of the part number indicates the 'Euro' version. In fact, it denotes parts specific to the HLS30E. That's essentially the LHD '240Z' that was made specifically for the 'European' market. The spring rate - and damper bump and rebound - was higher on these models.
Nissan had a chassis engineer and a small team of assistants pounding European roads in a test 240Z through the second half of 1970 and into 1971, and they came up with some Euro-specific suspension and aero tweaks for the cars. I believe a good number of the UK market 240Zs ended up with the same stuff.
There's a possibility that your suspension may have been changed at some time in the car's life. It would be interesting to know if the dampers were changed at all? You probably don't want to take them apart...!
In any case, I think you need the 'Euro' springs to go with those 'Euro' struts.
Well the car is as near standard as I can get it at the moment. I've changed all 4 springs twice now and it's a maul.
I have Highway Star's NOS springs on the front.
Not driven it yet because I need to reconnect and bleed the brakes.
I know it will be against most people's taste but I'll see how I goes. I wanted to revert to standard for a while as a reference. I bet I leave it like this.
I have Highway Star's NOS springs on the front.
Not driven it yet because I need to reconnect and bleed the brakes.
I know it will be against most people's taste but I'll see how I goes. I wanted to revert to standard for a while as a reference. I bet I leave it like this.
Attachments
Last edited by a moderator:
I sorted the brakes today (my wife bled them with me) and I also fitted a pair of recon calipers (one of mine was sticking). I got the calipers from a member and springs from two members so that's the benefit of Clubs like this.
The car drives really nicely
, so much better than before when it had the limited travel. Yes it's soft and high but that's how they were. Under heavy braking in dives at the front which cars used to do but that's ok.
There are probably quite a few members on here who never driven a sorted standard 240Z. It goes well, honestly and above all it feels like a classic sports car which it should. I'm lucky to have a modern Z (370), a standard 240Z and a modified 240Z - all have their strengths.
Happy days!
The car drives really nicely
, so much better than before when it had the limited travel. Yes it's soft and high but that's how they were. Under heavy braking in dives at the front which cars used to do but that's ok.There are probably quite a few members on here who never driven a sorted standard 240Z. It goes well, honestly and above all it feels like a classic sports car which it should. I'm lucky to have a modern Z (370), a standard 240Z and a modified 240Z - all have their strengths.
Happy days!
MaximG
Well-Known Forum User
So ok I'm kind of a little intrigued as to what Sorted and Standard mean in the context you have written it. To me Standard means as it left the factory where as Sorted means changed to personal taste?
So just to move on from that question does your Standard 240 have all its stock rubber bushes?
Mike B
Mike in my context sorted means 'right and working perfectly' and 'standard' means the same spec as it left the factory.
The reason I like this car is that it is so original. However it did need a bit of 'sorting' i.e. tuning, sticky caliper, new thermostat, gear lever bushes, repair fuel pump, replace blocked fuel filter etc. I also retuned it to steel wheels. It runs really nicely now and bear in mind it's very low mileage.
Yes it still has it's rubber bushes, rubber brake hoses, braided hoses - all the actual original ones it was built with.
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
I think there's a lot to be said for running with rubber bushes.
Were they not when they left the factory then
Of course but not when I bought it.
andrew muir
Club Member
Originality I thought mean't original specification, not literally the original equipment, surely the oil was changed at some time!!
I would also take it the battery, bushes and brake pads filters and many other parts would have to be changed, just to keep it on the road. In my mind this does not affect the originality of a car.
Rob's car to my mind is about original as you could possibly get, a Zed to be!!
I would also take it the battery, bushes and brake pads filters and many other parts would have to be changed, just to keep it on the road. In my mind this does not affect the originality of a car.
Rob's car to my mind is about original as you could possibly get, a Zed to be!!
.......
Rob's car to my mind is about original as you could possibly get, a Zed to be!!
And that is why I have been a stickler for getting the suspension back to standard - I know it looks funny these days.
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
I think a mix of new rubber bushings and some poly ones would be the best all round. I'm sure some of the rally cars run like that.